'2(y2 KECOHDS OF THE AU.STRALIAX MUSEUM. 



tiiul ill segment xiii. is a median sperm sac, with a definite wall. 

 The ovary is in segment xii. in the usual position, and loose ova 

 of various sizes also occur in this segment ; in xiii. and xiv. are 

 also very large ova, one in each segment, lying in an ovisac. The 

 o\iduct I was unable to trace satisfactorily, but at the boundary 

 of segments xii./xiii. I detected a mass of small nuclei in a 

 position suggesting the duct, but the compression to which the 

 worm had been subjected had entirely obliterated the lumen, if it 

 be the duct, and though I was able to trace these cells into con- 

 tinuity with the epidermis, no pore was visible 



The alimentary canal presents no special features. The 

 pharynx is present in segment ii. ; the oesophagus, thick-walled 

 and of small diameter, extends into the tenth segment, beyond 

 which it opens abruptly into the thin-walled intestine, which has 

 a diameter about twice tliat of the cesophagus : here, starting in 

 segment xi., the gut is filled with sand grains, diatom shells, etc. 

 There are salivary glands or septal glands on the anterior wall of 

 segments v. and vi. 



Of the vat^cnla)' system the following facts were noted. Tlie 

 dorsal and ventral vessels are the only longitudinal trunks ; these 

 are connected by delicate commissurals in segments iii. to vii., the 

 last being slightly larger than the rest, but not definitely "heart"- 

 like. There are no integumental vessels ; on the outer wail of the 

 intestine, however, there is a very regular network of blood- 

 vessels formed of closely and regularly set circular vessels con- 

 nected by short longitudinal ones. This recalls Michaelsen's 

 account of the arrangement in Phreodrilus kergueJenen^is (10). 

 The blood is quite pale in colour. 



The nephridia are loose-coiled tuV)es of a Tubificid character ; 

 they seem to be asymmetrically disposed, for the first organ lies 

 on the left side of segment vi. Those of the following segments 

 are also confined to the left side ; that in segment x. is on the 

 right side ; and further back I see only one in a segment. 



Remarks. — Although the worm agrees with Phreodrilus in 

 general external anatomy and in several of the internal characters, 

 so as to be easily included in the family Phreodrilida?, as defined 

 by Michaelsen (1902), yet it differs from all the species of the 

 genus Phreodrilus in the structure of the male efferent apparatus, 

 and in the apparent absence of a spermatheca. I say "apparent" 

 absence, for it may possibly be that the muscular sac, filled with 

 spermatozoa, has received those spermatozoa during copulation 

 with another worm. But in no Oligochjete hitherto studied do we 

 know of such a spermatheca connected in this way with the male 

 duct. On the other hand, we not unfrequently find the ripe 

 spermatozoa filling more or less of the atrial caAity, through 



